Reflect on the following questions and answer them in some detail.
1. Which of the possible venues do you think would best suit this play? Why do you believe the dramatic action would be best served in this venue?
I believe that the option to set play in would a small, cramped theatre. This because this is an uncomfortable play to see, and to reflect that in the setting would emphasize that fact. The play gets up close in personal and keeping things in the family so that should be echoed in the theatre. The feeling that everyone is one top of each other from the tension in the air at the climax to the laughs at the dinner table, they should be experienced together.
2. What are some of the design challenges posed by the play?
The quick transition between scene in the play provide a challenge for set design. It would hard to have too many big or heavy set decorations as there wouldn't be time to move them so they would most likely have to remain on the stage. Also the character of the greek chorus is somewhat of a challenge because of the number of character they play you would need the to look a flexible age and have to costume them differently when they portray a different character.
3. Choose the various chorus characters and discuss how you see them dressed. In what ways do you think the costumes you describe would help articulate their purpose in this play?
The costumes are heavy a factor in deciphering when the chorus is playing one character vs another. Without them, the only clue the audience would have would be the dialogue which would be hard to do. I would like the costumes to very indicative of the character they are portraying, while also of the time period. For example I would the male chorus when dressed as the grandfather to maybe have a pair of glasses and a knitted sweater, but when dressed as the waiter a clean pressed white shirt and a black apron. For the teenage chorus, when they are the Aunt, middle age lady blouse with high-waisted jeans and when they are 11 year old Lil'Bit pigtails, frilly socks, and shorts/dress with a button up. I think sticking to the basics as much as possible would be best because too much going on with the costumes could detract from the acting.
4. Provide some ideas about the use of light in the play?
I believe is essential to this play. It could be used to separate parts of the stage so that no set furniture has to be moved allowing the scene to transition more smoothly. A spotlight could also be used for Lil'Bits talks to the audience to help them understand it is an aside. A creative use of light could also be at the end when the lights go down as she drives off two lights could shine on the audience light headlights on a car. This could also add a deeper meaning which would be, "Now that you've heard this story what are YOU going to do?".
5. Suggest music and sound effects that could help accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play.
I think to help play into the frame of the play, car sound effects could be used at transitions or to punctuate and line of dialogue, like is suggested with the road signs in the production notes. This would add to the punchy light-heartedness of those scenes and their absence would further add the the heavy weight and uncomfortableness of serious scenes. If I were to produce this play I would set it in the 80s to 90s as that is more relevant to me and my audience so that would me overhauling the musical references in the play with music from that time frame.
1. Which of the possible venues do you think would best suit this play? Why do you believe the dramatic action would be best served in this venue?
I believe that the option to set play in would a small, cramped theatre. This because this is an uncomfortable play to see, and to reflect that in the setting would emphasize that fact. The play gets up close in personal and keeping things in the family so that should be echoed in the theatre. The feeling that everyone is one top of each other from the tension in the air at the climax to the laughs at the dinner table, they should be experienced together.
2. What are some of the design challenges posed by the play?
The quick transition between scene in the play provide a challenge for set design. It would hard to have too many big or heavy set decorations as there wouldn't be time to move them so they would most likely have to remain on the stage. Also the character of the greek chorus is somewhat of a challenge because of the number of character they play you would need the to look a flexible age and have to costume them differently when they portray a different character.
3. Choose the various chorus characters and discuss how you see them dressed. In what ways do you think the costumes you describe would help articulate their purpose in this play?
The costumes are heavy a factor in deciphering when the chorus is playing one character vs another. Without them, the only clue the audience would have would be the dialogue which would be hard to do. I would like the costumes to very indicative of the character they are portraying, while also of the time period. For example I would the male chorus when dressed as the grandfather to maybe have a pair of glasses and a knitted sweater, but when dressed as the waiter a clean pressed white shirt and a black apron. For the teenage chorus, when they are the Aunt, middle age lady blouse with high-waisted jeans and when they are 11 year old Lil'Bit pigtails, frilly socks, and shorts/dress with a button up. I think sticking to the basics as much as possible would be best because too much going on with the costumes could detract from the acting.
4. Provide some ideas about the use of light in the play?
I believe is essential to this play. It could be used to separate parts of the stage so that no set furniture has to be moved allowing the scene to transition more smoothly. A spotlight could also be used for Lil'Bits talks to the audience to help them understand it is an aside. A creative use of light could also be at the end when the lights go down as she drives off two lights could shine on the audience light headlights on a car. This could also add a deeper meaning which would be, "Now that you've heard this story what are YOU going to do?".
5. Suggest music and sound effects that could help accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play.
I think to help play into the frame of the play, car sound effects could be used at transitions or to punctuate and line of dialogue, like is suggested with the road signs in the production notes. This would add to the punchy light-heartedness of those scenes and their absence would further add the the heavy weight and uncomfortableness of serious scenes. If I were to produce this play I would set it in the 80s to 90s as that is more relevant to me and my audience so that would me overhauling the musical references in the play with music from that time frame.